Month: July 2015

Virtual Veterinarians What You Should Know

Veterinary telemedicine

Veterinarians have a lot of responsibilities on their hands. Vets across the country treat the pets Americans raise and love. In 2012, more than 164 million American households owned at least one pet, including 83 million dogs and 96 million cats. Not only do Americans own many pets, they spend quite a lot on them (something most vets would agree with). The American Pet Products Association found that every year, Americans spend close to $50 billion on pet supplies, including food, litter, leashes, grooming tools, and toys. Needless to say, our furry critters are (for the most part) well groomed and provided for in the United States.

Vets have a lot to deal with on a day-to-day basis. They have many stories of when a pet ate chocolate, for example, or a piece of plastic. When a dog injures his leg after running too fast or when a cat swatted at something with way too much intensity! Still, pet owners are busy too, and may not have enough time to take their pets to the vet as often as they should. It is recommended that pets younger than eight years old should go to the vet at least once a year and pets older than that should go at least twice. That, however, is easier said than done.

Thankfully, new technology is making veterinary care more accessible than ever. Online veterinary services offer pet owners with a chance to treat their pets without having to go to a vet’s office. Online veterinarian services offer professional veterinary care from the comfort of one’s home. By using webcams or the telephone, vets can examine and even diagnose pets. Virtual veterinarian services makes going to the vet easy, convenient, and safe.

When your pet ate chocolate or injured itself, you know just how important it is to see a vet. Now, with modern Internet capabilities, you can do so without ever leaving your home.

3 Rules of Thumb to Help Your Sick Doggy

Advanced veterinary care

It can be pretty nerve-wracking to think that your dog might be sick, especially when you don’t know what to do. Luckily, there are some rules of thumb you can use to get your pup the help it needs. Here are just a few of the best ones.

When It Doubt, Call. If you aren’t sure whether or not your dog is sick, it’s best to call your veterinary care center. The veterinarian technicians at the pet wellness center will listen to the symptoms, and can offer some advice. You may not have to worry, or keep an eye on them, or bring them. Either way, it’s always nice to know. After all, you don’t want to bring them in to the veterinary care center and get a big bill for nothing, but you also don’t want to pretend like there’s not something wrong, either.

Ward Off Fleas With Citrus. If your dog is restless, scratching often, licking or chewing parts of its body more than normal, then there’s a chance it may have fleas. To ward these blood sucking parasites away, try using a simple solution of lemon water. Fleas hate citrus, so give your dog a spritz if it’s getting itchy, and hopefully the fleas will abandon ship.

Sports Drinks Can Help a Sick Stomach. If your little guy is having a tough bout of diarrhea or vomiting, sports drinks or pediatrics drinks can help rehydrate them, replacing the much needed fluids in their bodies. Before you give your champ a bottle of Gatorade, be sure to ask your veterinary care center how much they can have.

If your dog is sick, relax. Just call your veterinary care center to find out whether they need to come in. If they have fleas, use lemon water. If they have a sick stomach, give them some sports drink. It’s that easy.

If you have any pet health questions about these rules of thumb, feel free to ask in the comments.